Vehicle side visor cover

ABSTRACT

A side visor is effectively utilized to perform sufficient ventilation in a car. 
     A cover is attached on a vehicle side visor  21  provided along a window frame  14  of a vehicle door. The cover  31  comprises: a cover attachment portion  32  which can be attached on an outer surface of the side visor and has a lower edge along a lower edge of the side visor; a tabular sealing portion  33  whose outer rim is integrally connected with the lower edge of the cover attachment portion and whose inner rim faces a rolled-up window glass  13 ; and an elastic material  34  which is attached on the inner rim of the sealing portion and formed to come into contact with an outer surface of the rolled-up window glass. The sealing portion  33  may comprise a first sealing plate and a second sealing plate which is superimposed and attached on the first sealing plate so as to be capable of moving in a car widthwise direction. On the other hand, the sealing portion may be formed in a curve in such a manner that it declines as getting close to the rolled-up window glass of the door. Further, a lamp  36  may be attached on the cover attachment portion or the like.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle side visor cover attached ona side visor provided along a window frame of a vehicle door. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle side visorcover which facilitates air ventilation in a car by slightly rollingdown a window glass during traveling of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

A vehicle side visor is conventionally formed into a window-roof shapewhich covers a front part and an upper part of a window glass coveredwith a window frame of a vehicle door, and an upper edge of this sidevisor is attached on the window frame. In a vehicle having such a sidevisor provided thereto, when the window glass is slightly rolled downduring traveling, air flowing in the vicinity of the side visor forms anegative pressure, and air in a car is outwardly discharged from anopened gap, thereby ventilating the inside of the car. This side visorprevents rain drops from entering the car even if the side window glassis slightly rolled down for ventilation in the car even in the rain.

However, since an opening direction of the gap at the upper part of thedoor formed by slightly rolling down the side window glass is parallelto a flow of air outside the car, not only discharge of air by anegative pressure cannot be efficiently carried out from the upper part,but also air in the car discharged from a door front part flows upwardthrough an outer part of the side window glass to again enter the carfrom the gap at the upper part in some cases. Further, in a state wherethe side window glass has been rolled up, a swirling current isgenerated between a rear end of the side visor and the side windowglass, thereby increasing wind noise.

In order to eliminate these problems, as shown in FIG. 25, there hasbeen proposed a side visor 2 having a configuration in which aprotrusion piece 2 a parallel to an upper edge of a side window glass 3is provided at a part which covers a parallel upper part 4 b of a windowframe 4 of the side visor 2 from the outside of a vehicle and an elasticsealing material 2 b is provided at an end of the protrusion piece 2 ato come into contact with the side window glass 3 (see, e.g., PatentReference 1). In such a side visor 2, even if air sucked from the insideof the car through a gap generated between a front part of the vehicleand the window glass 3 flows upward through an outer side of the windowglass 3, the end of the protrusion piece 2 a comes into contact with theside window glass 3 through the sealing material 2 b to close the gapgenerated between the upper part 4 b of the window frame 4 and thewindow glass 3, and hence an air current transmitted through the outerpart of the window glass 3 can be prevented from again entering the carthrough this gap.

Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2003-312255 (claims)

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, when a user using a conventional side visor which does not havethe protrusion piece 2 a and the elastic sealing material 2 b adopts theside visor 2 shown in FIG. 25, he/she must replace the entire vehicleside visor and discard the conventionally used side visor.

In order to eliminate this problem, additionally bonding the protrusionpiece 2 a to the conventionally used side visor can be considered.However, since a quantity of air sucked from the inside of the car is inproportion to the gap generated when the window glass 3 is rolled down,the gap generated between the front part of the vehicle and the windowglass 3 through which air is actually sucked becomes very narrow whenthe protrusion piece 2 a is attached on the side visor in parallel withthe upper edge of the side window glass 3, thereby making it difficultto perform sufficient ventilation.

That is, even if the side window glass 3 is rolled down and opened atall portions covered with the vehicle side visor 2, the vehicle sidevisor 2 can prevent rain water dropping from the opened part fromentering. However, in a case where the protrusion piece 2 a is providedto the side visor in parallel with the upper edge of the side windowglass 3, discharged air cannot be prevented from again entering when theside window glass 3 is rolled down beyond the protrusion piece 2 a.Here, when the side window glass 3 is rolled down, a gap at a frontinclined part from which air is actually discharged is narrower than thegap generated at the upper horizontal part. Therefore, when theprotrusion piece 2 a is provided above a lower end of the side visor 2,it is hard to assure a sufficient gap to actually discharge air at thefront inclined part of the window frame 4, thereby making it difficultto perform sufficient ventilation.

Moreover, when the protrusion piece 2 a is provided above the lower endof the side visor 2, there is a problem of occurrence of wind noise in aspace sandwiched between the side window glass 3 and the side visor 2below the protrusion piece 2 a. That is, air discharged from the gapbetween the front inclined part of the window frame and the window glass3 during traveling of a vehicle flows toward the rear side in thevicinity of the protrusion piece 2 a while gyrating along the windowglass 3, but a position at which a swirling current actually flows belowthe protrusion piece 2 a is sandwiched between the side window glass 3and the side visor 2, and hence a flow of the gyrating air current isobstructed as indicated by arrows in FIG. 25, thereby generating windnoise.

On the other hand, in a case where the protrusion piece 2 a iscontinuously provided at the lower end of the side visor 2, the rainfalling on the side visor is transmitted through the protrusion piece 2a from the lower end, and the rain water transmitted through theprotrusion piece 2 a falls into and enters a vehicle from an inner edgethrough the opened window frame in some cases when the side window glassis rolled down beyond the protrusion piece 2 a.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle side visorcover which effectively utilizes a conventionally used side visor,prevents an air current transmitted through an outer part of a windowglass from entering a car interior and enables sufficient ventilation inthe car.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle sidevisor cover which allows an air current transmitted through an outerpart of a window glass to rapidly flow, thereby suppressing occurrenceof wind noise.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vehicleside visor cover which can effectively prevent the rain falling on aside visor from entering the inside of a car.

Means for Solving the Problems

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the present invention according to claim 1provides a vehicle side visor cover which is attached on aconventionally used vehicle side visor 21, 121 provided along a windowframe 14, 18 of a vehicle door 11, 16 to effectively utilize the vehicleside visor 21, 121, the vehicle side visor cover comprising: a coverattachment portion 32, 112 which can be attached on an outer surface ofthe side visor 21, 121 and has a lower edge along a lower edge of theside visor 21, 121; a tabular sealing portion 33, 113 whose outer rim isintegrally connected with the lower edge of the cover attachment portion32, 112 and whose inner rim faces a rolled-up window glass 13, 17 of thedoor 11, 16; and

an elastic material 34, 114 which is attached on the inner rim of thesealing portion 33, 113 and formed to come into contact with an outersurface of the rolled-up window glass 13, 17 of the door 11, 16.

The vehicle side visor cover described in claim 1 is attached on thevehicle side visors 21 and 121 provided along window frames 14 and 18 ofvehicle doors 11 and 16, and hence the conventionally utilized sidevisors 21 and 121 can be effectively used.

Additionally, even though air sucked from the inside of the car througha gap generated between a front part 14 a of the window frame 14 and thewindow glass 13 flows through an outer side of the window glass 13, theside visor cover 31 according to the present invention is attached on ahorizontal part 23 of the side visor 21, and its sealing portion 33covers a second visor main body 23 b from a lower side, therebyeffectively preventing an air current transmitted through the outer sideof the window glass 13 from again entering the car through this gap.Further, since a cover attachment portion 32 is bonded to an outersurface of the side visor 21, appropriately selecting a bonding positionof the cover attachment portion 32 in an up-and-down direction canadjust a vertical position of a sealing portion 33 which is formed byintegrally connecting an outer rim thereof with a lower edge of the sidevisor. Therefore, an inner rim of the sealing portion 33 is placed at aposition lower than that of the conventional protrusion piece 2 aprovided above the lower edge of the side visor 2, thereby largelyrolling down the side window glass 13 as compared with the conventionalproduct. Accordingly, since air is actually discharged to the frontinclined part 14 a of the window frame 14 from which air is actuallydischarged, a relatively large gap can be assured, thereby obtainingsufficient ventilation.

As shown in FIG. 23, the present invention according to claim 2 providesthe vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined in claim 1,wherein the sealing portion 33 comprises: a first sealing plate 33 awhose outer rim is integrally connected with the lower edge of the coverattachment portion 32 and whose inner rim faces the rolled-up windowglass 13 of the door 11; and a second sealing plate 33 b which issuperimposed and attached on the first sealing plate 33 a so as to bemovable in a car widthwise direction and has an inner rim on which theelastic material 34 is attached.

In the vehicle side visor cover described in claim 2, a width of thesealing portion 33 can be adjusted by moving the second sealing plate 33b in a vehicle widthwise direction in accordance with the gap betweenthe side window glass 13 and a second visor main body 23 b in the sidevisor 21, and matching the width of the sealing portion 33 with the gapbetween the side window glass 13 and the second visor main body 23 b canassuredly close the gap. As a result, an air current transmitted throughthe outer side of the window glass 13 can be effectively prevented fromentering the car.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention according to claim 3 providesthe vehicle side visor which is the invention defined in claim 1,wherein the sealing portion 33 is formed in a curved in such a mannerthat it declines and approaches the window glass 13 as getting closer tothe rolled-up window glass 13 of the door.

In the vehicle side visor cover described in claim 3, an inner rim ofthe sealing portion 33 is provided at a position lower than that of anouter rim thereof, and a rolling-down quantity of the window glass 13can be increased in a state where an elastic body 34 is in contact withthe side window glass 13, thereby assuring a relatively large gap fordischarging air.

Furthermore, even though air discharged from the gap between the frontinclined part 14 a of the window frame 14 and the window glass 13 flowstoward the rear side in the vicinity of the sealing portion 33 bygyrating along the window glass 13, since the sealing portion 33 isformed in a downward curve toward the window glass 13, a gyrating aircurrent rapidly flows toward the rear side along the curved surface asindicated by an arrow in FIG. 1, thereby avoiding occurrence of windnoise due to obstructing a flow of the gyrating air current.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the present invention according to claim 4provides the vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined inclaim 1, wherein the vehicles side visor 21 is provided along the windowframe 14 of a front door 11, the side visor 21 of the front door 11comprises: a first inclined portion 22 which covers an inclined frontpart 14 a of the front window frame 14 from the outside of a vehicle;and a first horizontal portion 23 which is formed to be continuous withthe first inclined portion 22 and covers a substantially horizontalupper part 14 b of the front window frame 14 from the outside of thevehicle, and the cover attachment portion 32 can be attached on a lowerouter surface of the first horizontal portion 23.

In the vehicle side visor cover described in claim 4, by slightlyrolling down the window glass 13, air inside the car can be sucked fromthe gap between the inclined front part 14 a of the front window frame14 and the window glass 13. Additionally, the sealing portioncontinuously formed at the lower edge of the cover attachment portion 32bonded on a lower outer surface of the first horizontal portion 23prevents the sucked air from again entering the car from the gap betweenthe upper part 14 b of the front window frame 14 a and the window glass13.

As shown in FIG. 7, the present invention according to claim 5 providesthe vehicle side visor which is the invention defined in claim 4,wherein an upper edge of the cover attachment portion 32 is formed to besmoothly continuous with a lower edge of the first inclined portion 22of the vehicle side visor 21.

In the vehicle side visor cover described in claim 5, rain water whichhas fallen on the first horizontal portion 23 of the side visor 21 inrainy weather is guided to the lower edge of the first inclined portion22 of the vehicle side visor 21 along the upper edge of the coverattachment portion 32 as indicated by arrows in FIG. 7. Therefore, therain water fallen on the first horizontal portion 23 of the side visor21 can be prevented from being transmitted through the sealing portion33 beyond the cover attachment portion 32 and dropping into the car fromthe gap between the window glass 13 rolled below the side visor 21 andthe window frame 14.

As shown in FIG. 8, the present invention according to claim 6 providesthe vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined in claim 4,wherein the vehicle side visor is provided along a window frame 18 of arear door 16 in addition to the window frame 14 of the front door 11,the side visor 121 of the rear door 16 comprises: a second horizontalportion 122 which covers a substantially horizontal upper part 18 a ofthe rear window frame 18 from the outside of the vehicle; and a secondinclined portion 123 which is formed to be continuous with the secondhorizontal portion 122 and covers an inclined rear part 18 b of the rearwindow frame 18 from the outside of the vehicle, and the coverattachment portion 112 can be attached on a lower outer surface of thesecond horizontal portion 122 or a lower outer surface of the secondinclined portion 123.

In the vehicle side visor cover described in claim 6, the sealingportion 113 covers the lower part of the second horizontal portion 122or the lower part of the second inclined portion 123 from the lower sideto close the gap generated between the window frame 18 and a windowglass 17. Therefore, air in the car sucked from the gap between thefront part 14 a of the window frame 14 and the rolled-down window glass13 in the front door 11 flows toward the rear side of the vehicle 10together with air outside the vehicle which flows by traveling of thevehicle, and hence the air can be prevented from again entering the carinterior from the gap between the window frame 18 and theslightly-rolled-down window glass 17 in the rear door 16.

The present invention according to claim 7 provides the vehicle sidevisor cover which is the invention defined in claim 1, wherein a rainreceiving groove 32 a is formed at the upper edge of the coverattachment portion 32 alone (not shown) or together with the vehicleside visor 21 as shown in FIG. 1 over an entire length of the coverattachment portion 32.

In this vehicle side visor cover described in claim 7, rain water fallenon the first horizontal portion 23 of the side visor 21 in rainy weathercan be assuredly received, and the rain water can be prevented frombeing transmitted through the sealing portion 33 beyond the coverattachment portion 32 and dropping into the car from the gap between therolled-down window glass 13 and the window frame 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention according to claim 8 providesthe vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined in claim 1,wherein a lamp 36 is attached on the cover attachment portion 32 in sucha manner that it can be visually recognized from the outside of thevehicle 10.

In this vehicle side visor cover according to claim 8, the lamp 36 canbe readily attached on a side part of the vehicle 10 by a relativelyeasy operation, i.e., attachment on the side visor 21. Further, whenthis lamp 36 is electrically connected with a sidemarker lamp, the lamp36 positioned on a outer side part of the vehicle is turned on duringtraveling at night, a driver of an oncoming vehicle or a third personwalking along a road can recognize a size of the entire vehicle 10 in awidthwise direction and effectively avoid contact or the like with thevehicle 10, thereby achieving the sufficient safety.

On the other hand, when this lamp 36 is electrically connected with adirection indicator, a driver of a vehicle approaching to this vehiclefrom a lateral side thereof or a third person walking on the lateralside of the vehicle can easily recognize from the lamp 36 flashing at arelatively high position that a traveling direction of the vehicle 10changes.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the present invention according to claim 9provides the vehicle side visor which is the invention defined in claim4, wherein a horizontal rear cover 66, a horizontal upper cover 67 andan inclined upper cover 68 are integrally formed with the coverattachment portion 62, the horizontal rear cover 66 being configured tobe attached on a rear outer surface of the first horizontal portion 23of the vehicle side visor 21, the horizontal upper cover 67 beingconfigured to be attached on an upper outer surface of the firsthorizontal portion 23, the inclined upper cover 68 being configured tobe attached on an upper outer surface of the first inclined portion 22of the vehicle side visor 21, and a lamp 36 is attached on one of thecover attachment portion 62, the horizontal rear cover 66, thehorizontal upper cover 67 and the inclined upper cover 68 in such amanner that it can be visually recognized from the outside of thevehicle 10.

In this vehicle side visor cover according to claim 9, a degree offreedom of an attachment position of the lamp 36 can be improved.Furthermore, when the cover attachment portion 62, the horizontal rearcover 66, the horizontal upper cover 67 and the inclined upper cover 68are colored or plated in accordance with a color tone of the vehiclebody, an aesthetic sense of the vehicle 10 can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 9, the present invention according to claim 10 providesthe vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined in claim 9,wherein a lead wire 69 which supplies power to the lamp 36 is arrangedon one or both of inner surfaces of the horizontal upper cover 67 andthe inclined upper cover 68.

In this vehicle side visor cover according to claim 10, since the leadwire 69 is covered with one or both of the horizontal upper cover 67 andthe inclined upper cover 68, the lead wire 69 is prevented fromappearing on the outer side of the vehicle 10, thereby improving theappearance of the vehicle 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, the present invention according to claim 11provides the vehicle side visor which is the invention defined in claim6, wherein a horizontal cover 137 which can be attached on an outersurface of the second horizontal portion 122 of the vehicle side visor121 is integrally formed with the cover attachment portion 132, and alamp 116 is attached on the cover attachment portion 132 or thehorizontal cover 137 in such a manner that it can be visually recognizedfrom the outside of the vehicle 10.

In this vehicle side visor cover according to claim 11, the lamp 116 canbe attached to reach the outer part of the rear door 16. Further, whenthe cover attachment portion 132 and the horizontal cover 137 arecolored or plated in accordance with a color tone of the vehicle body,an aesthetic sense of the vehicle 10 can be improved.

The prevent invention according to claim 12 provides the vehicle sidevisor cover which is the invention defined in claim 11, wherein a leadwire which supplies power to the lamp 116 is arranged on one or both ofinner surfaces of the horizontal cover 137 or the cover attachmentportion 132.

In this vehicles side visor cover according to claim 12, since the leadwire in the lamp 116 provided to the outer part of the rear door 16 iscovered with one or both of the horizontal cover 137 and the coverattachment portion 132, the lead wire is prevented from appearing on theouter side of the vehicle 10, thereby improving the appearance of thevehicle 10.

As shown in FIG. 17, the present invention according to claim 13provides the vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined inclaim 1, wherein a lamp 36 which illuminates a lower side is attached onthe sealing portion 83.

In this vehicle side visor cover according to claim 13, when the lamp 36is electrically connected with, e.g., an interior roof lamp, the lamp 36illuminates a foothold of a driver or any other passenger who gets onand off the vehicle 10 so that the driver or any other passenger cansafely get on and off the vehicle even in a place where sufficientilluminations are not provided.

As shown in FIG. 17, the present invention according to claim 14provides the vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined inclaim 1, wherein a reinforcing holding piece 86 which is held at a lowerend of the vehicle side visor 21 together with the cover attachmentportion 82 is integrally provided at the lower edge of the coverattachment portion 82 or the sealing portion 83.

In this vehicle side visor cover according to claim 14, since thereinforcing holding piece 86 attached on the sealing portion 83 holdsthe lower end of the vehicle side visor 21 together with the coverattachment portion 82, attachment strength of the side visor cover 81with respect to the vehicle side visor 21 can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 22, the present invention according to claim 15provides the vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined inclaim 1, wherein the cover attachment portion 92 is attached at a lowerend of the side visor 21 by being screwed to a clip 96 which allowsfitting and has a U-shaped cross section.

In this vehicle side visor cover according to claim 15, the clip 96which fits to the lower end of the side visor 21 can improve attachmentstrength of the side visor cover 91 with respect to the vehicle sidevisor 21.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the present invention according to claim 16provides the vehicle side visor cover which is the invention defined inclaim 4, wherein a flap 76 is continuously formed at a front end of thecover attachment portion 72 along a lower edge of the first inclinedportion 22 of the vehicle side visor 21 on a lower outer surface of thefirst inclined portion 22, and the flap 76 can be selectively changed toone of a first position at which the entire flap 76 forms substantiallythe same plane as the first inclined portion 22 and a second position atwhich a lower end of the flap 76 increases a gap between itself and thefirst inclined portion 22.

In this vehicle side visor cover according to claim 16, when the flap ischanged to the second position shown in FIG. 16, a gap between itselfand the first inclined portion is increased. As a result, air in thevicinity of a first visor main body 22 b is guided to the outside of thevehicle in a curve, and a negative pressure with respect to air in thevehicle is further increased as compared with a case where the flap 76is not extended, whereby air in the car can be efficiently sucked fromthe gap between the front part 14 a and the rolled-down window glass 13.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

Since the vehicle side visor cover according to the present invention isattached to the vehicle side visor, the conventionally utilized sidevisor can be effectively used. Moreover, since the vehicle side visorcover comprises the cover attachment portion which can be attached tothe outer surface of the side visor and has a lower edge parallel to alower edge of the side visor, the plate-like sealing portion whose outerrim is integrally connected with the lower edge of the cover attachmentportion and whose inner rim faces the rolled-up window glass of thedoor, and the elastic material which is attached to an inner rim of thesealing portion and formed to come into contact with the outer surfaceof the rolled-up window glass, and hence the sealing portion covers theside visor from the lower side, thereby effectively preventing an aircurrent transmitted through the outer side of the window glass fromagain entering the vehicle via this gap. Additionally, since the coverattachment portion is bonded to the outer surface of the side visor, avertical position of the sealing portion whose outer rim is integrallyconnected with the lowered edge of the cover attachment portion can beadjusted by appropriately selecting a bonding position of the coverattachment portion in the vertical direction, and a rolling-downquantity of the side window glass can be increased as compared with theprior art, thereby obtaining sufficient ventilation.

In this example, when the sealing portion comprises a first sealingplate whose outer rim is integrally connected with the lower edge of thecover attachment portion and whose inner rim faces the rolled-up windowglass, and a second sealing plate which is attached to the first sealingplate to be superimposed on the first sealing plate movably in a vehiclewidthwise direction and has an elastic material attached to the innerrim thereof, a width of the sealing portion can be adjusted by movingthe second sealing plate in the vehicle widthwise direction inaccordance with a gap between the side window glass and the side visor.Therefore, matching the width of the sealing portion with this gap canassuredly close this gap, and effectively prevent an air currenttransmitted through the outer side of the window glass from entering thevehicle.

On the other hand, when the sealing portion is formed in a curve so thatit lowers and approaches the window glass as it gets closer to therolled-up window glass of the door, a position of the inner rim of thesealing portion is lower than that of the outer rim, and a rolling-downquantity of the window glass can be increased in a state where theelastic body is in contact with the side window glass, thereby assuringa relatively wide gap through which air is discharged. Further, eventhough air discharged from the gap between the front inclined part ofthe window frame and the window glass flows toward the rear side in thevicinity of the sealing portion while gyrating along the window glass,since the sealing portion is formed in a curve in such a manner that itlowers as it gets closer to the window glass, the gyrating air currentrapidly flows toward the rear side along the curved surface, thusavoiding occurrence of wind nose due to obstruction of a flow of thegyrating air current.

Furthermore, when the lamp is attached so that it is visible from theoutside of the vehicle, the lamp can be readily attached on each of theside portions of the vehicle by a relatively easy operation, i.e., justattaching the vehicle side visor cover according to the presentinvention to the side visor. Moreover, when this lamp is electricallyconnected with the sidemarker lamp, the lamp positioned at each outerside portion of the vehicle is turned on during traveling at night, anda driver of an oncoming car or a third person walking along a road canrecognize a size of the entire vehicle in a widthwise direction, therebyachieving sufficient safety while effectively avoiding contact or thelike with this vehicle. On the other hand, when this lamp iselectrically connected with each direction indicator, it is possible torecognize from the lamp blinking at a relatively high position that thevehicle is going to change a traveling direction. Moreover, when a lampwhich illuminates a lower part is attached to the sealing portion andthis lamp is electrically connected with a interior roof lamp, the lampilluminates a foothold of a driver or any other passenger who gets onand off the vehicle, and the driver or any other passenger can safelyget on and off the vehicle even in a place where illuminations are notenough.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A best mode for carrying out the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 8, a front door 11 and a rear door 16 are provided oneach side of a vehicle 10, and each door closes and opens a door openingportion 12 d formed on a body 12. Window opening portions 11 a and 16 aare respectively formed at upper portions of the front door 11 and therear door 16, and side window glasses 13 and 17 are attached to thesewindow opening portions 11 a and 16 a. The window opening portions 11 aand 16 a are respectively formed of window frames 14 and 18, and windowglass elevating devices are included in lower portions of the front door11 and the rear door 16 although not shown. The non-illustrated windowglass elevating devices close the window opening portions 11 a and 16 awith the respective window glasses 13 and 17 by upwardly moving thewindow glasses 13 and 17, and open the respective window openingportions 11 a and 16 a by downwardly moving the window glasses 13 and 17to be accommodated in lower portions of the front door 11 and the reardoor 16. Here, reference character 12 a represents a side view mirrorprovided to the front door 11.

The front door 11 and the rear door 16 have substantially the samecross-sectional configurations and, giving a description on the frontdoor 11 on behalf of both the doors, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a windowweather strip 15 to which an end of the rolled-up window glass 13indicated by an alternating long and short dash line enters is attachedon an inner periphery of the window frame 14, and an opening portionweather strip 12 b is attached on the entire periphery of the dooropening portion 12 d. This opening portion weather strip 12 b seals thecar interior when an end portion of this strip comes into contact withthe front door 11 in a state where the front door 11 is closed. Againreferring to FIG. 8, a vehicle side visor 21 for the front door isattached to the window frame 14 of the front door 11, and a vehicle sidevisor 121 for the rear door is attached to the window frame 18 of therear door 16. The side visor cover according to the present invention isattached to these side visors 21 and 121.

A description will be first given as to members which are attached tothe front door 11. As shown in FIG. 8, the window frame 14 of the frontdoor 11 has an inclined front part 14 a and a horizontal upper part 14b, and a first inclined portion 22 which covers the front part 14 a ofthe window frame 14 from the outside of the vehicle and a firsthorizontal portion 23 which covers the upper part 14 b of the windowframe 14 from the outside of the vehicle are integrally formed in thevehicle side visor 21 attached to this window frame 14. As shown in FIG.3, the first inclined portion 22 comprises a first flange portion 22 aattached to the front part 14 a and a first visor main body 22 bcontinuously formed at a lower end of this first flange portion 22 a.This first visor main body 22 b is integrally formed with the firstflange portion 22 a in such a manner that it is outwardly curved anddownwardly extended from the front part 14 a of the window frame 14 anda predetermined gap is provided between a lower end thereof and an outersurface of the rolled-up window glass 13.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the first horizontal portion 23has a second flange portion 23 a attached to the upper part 14 b and asecond visor main body 23 b continuously formed at a lower end of thisflange portion 23 a. This second visor main body 23 b is integrallyformed with the second flange portion 23 a and formed to outwardly curveand downwardly extend from the upper part 14 b of the window frame 14,and a rear end portion of the second visor main body 23 b is closed. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first flange portion 22 a and the secondflange portion 23 a are formed in accordance with the front part 14 aand the upper part 14 b, and the side visor 21 is attached to the windowframe 14 by bonding these first and second flange portions 22 a and 23 ato the front part 14 a and the upper part 14 b of the window frame 14through a double-faced adhesive tape 19.

<First Embodiment>

FIGS. 1, 4 and 8 show a vehicle side visor cover 31 in a firstembodiment. This vehicle side visor cover 31 is attached to the vehicleside visor 21 provided along the window frame of the vehicle front door11, and comprises a cover attachment portion 32 which can be attached onan outer surface of the side visor 21 and has a lower end parallel witha lower end of the side visor 21, a tabular sealing portion 33 whoseouter rim is integrally connected with the lower end of the coverattachment portion 32 and whose inner rim faces the rolled-up windowglass 13 of the front door 11, and an elastic material 34 which isattached at the inner rim of the sealing portion 33 and formed to comeinto contact with the outer surface of the rolled-up window glass 13.

The cover attachment portion 32 and the sealing portion 33 areintegrally formed by molding a non-color or color transparent resin. Inthis embodiment, since the side visor 21 includes the first inclinedportion 22 and the first horizontal portion 23, the cover attachmentportion 32 of the side visor cover 31 attached to this side visor 21 canbe attached on a lower outer surface of the first horizontal portion 23of the side visor 21. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper edge ofthe cover attachment portion 32 is formed to describe a gentle curve sothat it is gently and continuously connected with the lower edge of thefirst inclined portion 22 of the vehicle side visor 21. On the otherhand, as shown in FIG. 1, at the upper edge of the cover attachmentportion 32, a rain receiving groove 32 a is formed by this attachmentportion 32 alone or together with the vehicle side visor 21 over theentire length of the cover attachment portion 32.

Moreover, a lamp 36 is attached to the cover attachment portion 32 sothat the lamp 36 can be seen from the outside of the vehicle 10. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lamp 36 in this embodiment has a translucentlamp cover 37 attached in a through hole 32 c formed at a rear part ofthe cover attachment portion 32 and a lamp body 38 which is covered withthe lamp cover 37 and detachably attached to the lamp cover 37. Thethrough hole 32 c shown in the drawing is formed into a horizontallylong shape extending in a front-and-back direction of the vehicle 10,and the lamp cover 37 is formed by molding a translucent resin. The lampcover 37 has a curved portion 37 b which is formed in a curve so as tobulge from the surface of the cover attachment portion 32 in a statewhere it covers the lamp body 38 from the front surface and is insertedin the through hole 32 c, and a flange portion 37 c which iscontinuously formed around the entire periphery of the curved portion 37b and faces the cover attachment portion 32 at a hole edge of thethrough hole 32 c. The lamp cover 37 comprising the curved portion 37 band the flange portion 37 c is elongated in accordance with thehorizontally long through hole 32 c.

On the other hand, as the lamp body 38 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there isused one having a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) 38 alinearly arranged on a substrate 38 b. The periphery of the substrate 38b and the periphery of the lamp cover 37 are bonded to each other toconstitute the lamp body 38, and the lamp body 38 is attached to thecover attachment portion 32 by bonding the flange portion 37 c of thelamp cover 37 to the periphery of the through hole 32 c. It is to benoted that, although not shown, a metal foil is attached to theperiphery of the through hole 32 c of the cover attachment portion 32 soas to surround the through hole 32 c from the front side, and theappearance of the periphery of the lamp body 38 can be improved bycovering the substrate 38 b and others on the rear side of the coverattachment portion 32 around the through hole 32 c from the front side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover attachment portion 32 is bonded andattached on the lower outer surface of the first horizontal portion 23of the side visor 21 through the double-faced adhesive tape 39. Thesealing portion 33 whose outer rim is integrally connected and formed tothe lower edge of this cover attachment portion 32 is formed in a curvein such a manner that it extends downwardly and approaches the windowglass 13 as it gets close to the rolled-up window glass 13 of the door11. The elastic body 34 attached at the inner rim of this sealingportion 33 is formed of, e.g., synthetic rubber so that it can come intocontact with the outer surface of the rolled-up window glass 13 asindicated by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1. Thissealing portion 33 reduces vibration noise during traveling of thevehicle when it comes into contact with the outer surface of the windowglass 13 through this elastic body 34, and prevents an unwanted spray ofwater or the like from entering from a gap between the side visor 21 andthe window glass 13.

In the thus configured vehicle side visor cover 31, air outside thevehicle 10 flows toward the rear side of the vehicle 10 when the vehicle10 travels. When a driver of the vehicle 10 slightly rolls down the sidewindow glass 13 in order to ventilate the inside of the car, air in thevicinity of the first visor main body 22 b in the first inclined portion22 of the side visor 21 forms a negative pressure with respect to air inthe car, and air in the car is efficiently sucked from the gap betweenthe front part 14 a and the rolled-down window glass 13. The air in thecar sucked from this gap flows toward the rear side of the vehicle 10together with air outside the vehicle which flows during traveling ofthe vehicle. Additionally, although the air sucked from the inside ofthe car through the gap generated between the front part 14 a and thewindow glass 13 flows upwardly through the outer side of the windowglass 13, the side visor cover 31 according to the present invention isattached to the horizontal portion 23 of the side visor 21, the sealingportion 33 covers the second visor main body 23 b from the lower side,and the elastic body 34 attached at the inner rim of the sealing portion33 comes into contact with the window glass 13 to close the gap producedbetween the upper part 14 b of the window frame and the window glass 13.Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent an air currenttransmitted through the outer side of the window glass 13 from againentering the car through this gap while effectively utilizing the sidevisor 21 already attached to the door 11.

Further, in the side visor cover 31 according to the present invention,since the cover attachment portion 32 is bonded on the outer surface ofthe side visor 21, it is possible to adjust a vertical position of thesealing portion 33 whose outer rim is integrally connected and formed tothe lower edge of the cover attachment portion 32 by shifting up anddown a bonding position of the cover attachment portion 32. Therefore,as compared with the conventional protrusion piece 2 a provided abovethe lower edge of the side visor 2 shown in FIG. 25, the inner rim ofthe sealing portion 33 is placed at a lower position, and the sidewindow glass 13 can be sufficiently rolled down as compared with theprior art. Therefore, in order to actually discharge air, a relativelywide gap can be assured at the front inclined part 14 a of the windowframe 14 from which air is actually discharged, thereby obtainingsufficient ventilation.

In this embodiment in particular, since the sealing portion 33 is formedin a curve in such a manner that it extends downwardly and approachesthe window glass 13 as it gets closer to the rolled-up window glass 13of the door, the inner rim of the sealing portion 33 is placed at alower position than the outer rim, it is possible to increase a quantityof rolling down the window glass 13 in a state where the elastic body 34is in contact with the side window glass 13, and a relatively wide gapfrom which air is discharged can be assured. Furthermore, although airdischarged from the gap between the front inclined portion 14 a of thewindow frame 14 and the window glass 13 flows toward the rear side inthe vicinity of the sealing portion 33 while gyrating along the windowglass 13, the sealing portion 33 is formed in a curve in such a mannerthat it extends downwardly as it gets close to the window glass 13, andhence a gyrating air current rapidly flows toward the rear side alongthe curved surface, thereby avoiding occurrence of wind noise due toobstructing a flow of the gyrating air current.

On the other hand, since the upper edge of the cover attachment portion32 in the vehicle side visor cover 31 is formed so as to be smoothlycontinuous with the lower edge of the first inclined portion 22 of thevehicle side visor 21, the rain water fallen on the first horizontalportion 23 of the side visor 21 in the rainy weather is guided to thelower edge of the first inclined portion 22 of the vehicle side visorcover 21 along the upper edge of the cover attachment portion 32, andflows along the lower edge of the first inclined portion 22. Therefore,it is possible to prevent the rainwater fallen on the first horizontalportion 23 of the side visor 21 from being transmitted through thesealing portion 33 beyond the cover attachment portion 32 and the rainwater from dropping in the car from the gap between the rolled-downwindow glass 13 and the window frame 14. Moreover, since the rainreceiving groove 32 a is formed at the upper edge of the coverattachment portion 32 over the entire length of the cover attachmentportion 32, the rain water can be effectively prevented from dropping inthe car from the gap between the rolled-down window glass 13 and thewindow frame 14.

It is to be noted that although the description has been given as to theexample where the lamp 36 is attached at the rear part of the coverattachment portion 32 in the first embodiment, the lamp 36 does not haveto be necessarily attached, and the lamp 36 may be attached at a centralportion of the cover attachment portion 32 as shown in FIG. 5 or may beattached at a front portion of the cover attachment portion 32 as shownin FIG. 6 in case of attaching the lamp 36.

Additionally, although the description has been given as to the examplewhere the cover attachment portion 32 is bonded and attached on thelower outer surface of the first horizontal portion 23 of the side visor21 through the double-faced adhesive tape 39 in the foregoingembodiment, the cover attachment portion 32 may be bonded and attachedto the side visor 21 through an adhesive, or the cover attachmentportion 32 may be attached on the lower outer surface of the side visor21 by using screwing means. Further, the cover attachment portion 32 maybe attached on the lower outer surface of the side visor 21 by welding,or it may be attached on the lower outer surface of the side visor 21 byusing a special metal fitting for attachment.

<Second Embodiment>

FIGS. 9 to 11 show a second embodiment according to the presentinvention. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote componentsequal to those in the foregoing embodiment, thereby eliminating thetautological explanation.

In a vehicle side visor cover 61 in this second embodiment, to a coverattachment portion 62 are integrally formed a horizontal rear cover 66configured to be attached on a rear outer surface of a first horizontalportion 23 of a vehicle side visor 21, a horizontal upper cover 67configured to be attached on an upper outer surface of the firsthorizontal portion 23, and an inclined upper cover 68 configured to beattached on an upper outer surface of a first inclined portion 22 of thevehicle side visor 21. An outer rim of a sealing portion 63 isintegrally connected and formed to a lower edge of the cover attachmentportion 62 and an inner rim of the same faces a rolled-up window glass13 of the door 11. Further, an elastic material 64 formed to come intocontact with an outer surface of the rolled-up window glass 13 of thedoor 11 is attached at the inner rim of the sealing portion 63.

A lamp 36 is attached on the horizontal rear cover 66 in such a mannerthat the lamp 36 can be visually recognized from the outside of avehicle 10. The lamp 36 attached in this example is the same as the lamp36 in the foregoing embodiment, thereby eliminating the tautologicalexplanation. A lead wire 69 which supplies power to this lamp 36 isarranged to both the horizontal upper cover 67 and the inclined uppercover 68.

Giving a concrete description, one end of the coated lead wire 69 iselectrically connected with a plurality of LEDs 38 a of this lamp 36. Onthe other hand, a concave groove 67 a (FIG. 9 shows a concave portionformed on the horizontal upper cover only) which is continuous in thelongitudinal direction to face the side visor 21 is formed on thehorizontal upper cover 67 and the inclined upper cover 68 of the vehicleside visor cover 61, and this coated lead wire 69 is arranged in thisconcave grove 67 a. The other end of the lead wire 69 whose one end iselectrically connected to the lamp 36 and which is arranged in theconcave groove 67 a is configured to protrude from a front end of theinclined upper cover 68 as shown in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 9, adouble-faced adhesive tape 39 is attached on the horizontal upper cover67 and the inclined upper cover 68 having the coated lead wire 69arranged in the concave groove 67 a, and this double-faced adhesive tape39 is also attached on the horizontal rear cover 66 and the coverattachment portion 62. Furthermore, the side visor cover 61 isrespectively bonded on the outer surfaces of the first inclined portion22 and the first horizontal portion 23 of the side visor 21 through thisdouble-faced adhesive tape 39.

In a state where the side visor cover 61 including the lamp 36 isattached to the side visor 21, since the coated lead wire 69 is coveredwith the horizontal upper cover 67 and the inclined upper cover 68, andhence the lead wire 69 does not appear on the outside of the vehicle 10,thereby improving the appearance of the vehicle 10. In this embodiment,the other end of the coated lead wire 69 is electrically connected witha sidemarker lamp of the vehicle 10. That is, the other end of thecoated lead wire 69 is arranged in a door mirror 12 a from a part wherethe door mirror 12 a is attached, further arranged in the vehicle 10together with a wiring harness which drives a non-illustrated electricmotor in the door mirror 12 a, and connected with the lead wire whichsupplies power to the sidemarker lamp of the vehicle 10. As a result,the power is supplied to turn on the sidemarker lamp and, at the sametime, the power is also supplied to a lamp body 38 through the coatedlead wire 69 so that the LEDs 38 a of the lamp body 38 are turned on.

In the vehicle 10 in which the coated lead wire 69 is arranged and thevehicle side visor cover 61 is attached to the side visor 21, like theforegoing embodiment, the side visor 21 can be effectively utilized, andan air current transmitted through the outer side of the window glass 13can be prevented from entering the car while enabling sufficientventilation.

Furthermore, when a driver turns on a head lamp as well as thesidemarker lamp during traveling of the vehicle 10 at night, the lamp 36electrically connected with the sidemarker lamp is turned on. Since thislamp 36 has a lamp cover 37, a driver of an oncoming vehicle or a thirdperson walking along a road can recognize a size of the entire vehicle10 in a widthwise direction by lighting of the lamp 36 when this lamp 36is turned on, whereby contact or the like with the vehicle 10 can beeffectively avoided, thereby achieving sufficient safety.

It is to be noted that the description has been given as to the examplewhere the lamp 36 is attached on the horizontal rear cover 66 in theforegoing embodiment, but the lamp 36 may be attached on the coverattachment portion 62. Moreover, this lamp 36 may be attached on thehorizontal upper cover 67 as shown in FIG. 12, and this lamp 36 may beattached on the inclined upper cover 68 as shown in FIG. 13. Here, whenthe lamp 36 is attached on the inclined upper cover 68, the lead wire 69which supplies the power to this lamp 36 is arranged in the inclinedupper cover 68.

<Third Embodiment>

FIGS. 14 to 16 show a third embodiment according to the presentinvention. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote componentsequal to those in the foregoing embodiments, thereby avoiding atautological explanation.

A vehicle side visor cover 71 in the third embodiment is formed in sucha manner that a flap 76 is continuously formed with a front end of acover attachment portion 72 on a lower outer surface of a first inclinedportion 22 of a vehicle side visor 21. The cover attachment portion 72can be attached on a lower outer surface of a first horizontal portion23 of the side visor 21, and an outer rim of a sealing portion 73 isintegrally connected with a lower edge of the cover attachment portion72. An inner rim of the sealing portion 73 faces a rolled-up windowglass 13 of the door 11, and an elastic material 74 formed to come intocontact with an outer surface of the window glass 13 is provided at theinner rim of the sealing portion 73.

The flap 76 continuously formed with the cover attachment portion 72 isattached to be parallel with the lower edge of the first inclinedportion 22 through an attachment member 77. Giving a specificdescription, the attachment member 77 has a substrate 77 a which iscontinuously formed at a front end of the cover attachment portion 72and bonded on the first inclined portion 22 of the side visor 21, and apivot piece 77 b which protrudes on this substrate 77 a and whose endhas a semicircular outer shape, and a front end of this flap 76 ispivoted by this pivot piece 77 b. On an outer periphery of thesemicircular end of the pivot piece 77 b are formed a first concaveportion 77 c corresponding to a first position at which the flap 76forms substantially the same plane as the first inclined portion 22 asshown in FIG. 15 and a second concave portion 77 d corresponding to asecond position at which a gap between the flap 76 and the firstinclined portion 22 is increased as shown in FIG. 16. A locking piece 76a which locks in the first concave portion 77 c at the first position ofthe flap 76 and locks in the second concave portion 77 d at the secondposition of the flap 76 is formed with respect to the flap 76, and thisflap 76 can be selectively changed to one of the first position and thesecond position when this locking piece 76 a selectively locks in one ofthe first and second concave portions 77 c and 77 d.

In the thus configured vehicle side visor cover 71, when a driver of thevehicle 10 slightly rolls down the side window glass 13 in order toventilate the inside of the car, air in the vicinity of a first visormain body 22 b at the first inclined portion 22 of the side visor 21forms a negative pressure with respect to air in the car, and the air inthe car is sucked from a gap between the front part 14 a and therolled-down window glass 13 and flows to the rear side of the vehicle 10together with the air outside the vehicle. Since a quantity of thesucked air is in proportion to the gap between the first inclinedportion 22 of the side visor 21 and the side window glass 13, the flap76 is changed to the first position shown in FIG. 15 if this gap issufficient. On the other hand, in case of the side visor in which thisgap is relatively small, since sufficient ventilation cannot be expectedwhen the flap is placed at the first position, this flap is changed tothe second position shown in FIG. 16 to increase the gap between thefirst inclined portion and the side window glass. As a result, air inthe vicinity of the first visor main body 22 b is guided to the outerside of the vehicle in a curve and further forms a negative pressurewith respect to air in the car, and hence the air in the car can besufficiently sucked from the gap between the front part 14 a and therolled-down window glass 13. Therefore, attaching the side visor cover71 according to the present invention on the side visor 21 in which thegap between the first inclined portion 22 and the window glass 13 isrelative small can assure sufficient ventilation.

<Fourth Embodiment>

FIGS. 17 and 18 show a fourth embodiment according to the presentinvention. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote componentsequal to those in the foregoing embodiments, thereby eliminating atautological description.

In a vehicle side visor cover 81 according to this embodiment, areinforcing holding piece 86 which is held at a lower end of a vehicleside visor 21 together with a cover attachment portion 82 is integrallyprovided with a sealing portion 83. The reinforcing holding piece 86 inthis embodiment is formed by bending a steel plate into an L-like shape,and attached on the sealing portion 83 by screwing means 87 so as to bemovable in a car widthwise direction. The cover attachment portion 82 isbonded on an outer surface of the side visor 21 by a double-facedadhesive tape 39, and has a lower edge which is in parallel with a loweredge of the side visor 21. The sealing portion 83 is formed in such amanner that an outer rim thereof is integrally connected with the loweredge of the cover attachment portion 82 and an inner rim thereof faces arolled-up window glass 13 of a door 11. The reinforcing holding piece 86attached on the sealing portion 83 holds the lower end of the vehicleside visor 21 together with the cover attachment portion 82, therebyimproving attachment strength of the side visor cover 81 with respect tothe side visor 21.

An elastic material 84 formed to come into contact with an outer surfaceof the rolled-up window glass 13 of the door 11 is attached at an innerrim of the sealing portion 83, and a lamp 36 which illuminates a lowerpart is further attached on a front part of the sealing portion 83through hole 83 c. The lamp 36 attached in this example is the same asthat used in the foregoing embodiments, thereby eliminating a repeateddescription thereof. A lead wire 69 which supplies power to this lamp 36is arranged in both the cover attachment portion 82 and the sealingportion 83, and connected with an interior roof lamp of the vehicle 10.

In the vehicle 10 having the thus configured vehicle side visor cover 81attached on the side visor 21, when a driver opens the door 11 in orderto get on the vehicle 10 or get out of a driver's seat, thenon-illustrated interior roof lamp is tuned on, and the lamp 36 which iselectrically connected with the interior roof lamp and attached on thesealing portion 83 is turned on. Since the lamp 36 is attached on thesealing portion 83 to illuminate a lower part, it illuminates a footholdof a driver who has opened the door from the outside of the vehicle 10or the outside of the vehicle that the driver is going to get out. Whenthe lamp 36 is turned on in this manner, it is possible to assure safetyof the driver who is going to get on the vehicle 10 or the foothold ofthe driver who is going to get out of the driver's seat. In this case,since the lamp 36 is attached on the sealing portion 83, the sealingportion 83 may possibly become loose, but the reinforcing holding piece86 attached on the sealing portion 83 holds the lower end of the vehicleside visor 21 together with the cover attachment portion 82 to improvethe attachment strength of the side visor cover 81, thereby effectivelyavoiding related looseness.

Although the description has been given as to the example where thereinforcing holding piece 86 is provided to the sealing portion 83 inthe fourth embodiment, the reinforcing holding piece 86 may be providedto the cover attachment portion 82.

Additionally, although the description has been given as to the examplewhere the lamp 36 is attached at the front part of the sealing portion83 in the fourth embodiment, the lamp 36 may be attached at a rear partof the sealing portion 83 as shown in FIG. 19. Further, as shown inFIGS. 20 and 21, the vehicle side visor cover 81 may include thehorizontal rear cover 66, the horizontal upper cover 67 and the inclinedupper cover 68 and, in this case, the lamp 36 may be attached at thefront part of the sealing portion 83 as shown in FIG. 20, and this lamp36 may be attached at the rear part of the sealing portion 83 as shownin FIG. 21.

Furthermore, although the description has been given as to the examplewhere the cover attachment portion 32, 62, 72 or 82 is bonded on theouter surface of the vehicle side visor 21 through the double-facedadhesive tape 39 in the first to fourth embodiments, the coverattachment portion 32, 62, 72 or 82 may be screwed on the outer surfaceof the vehicle side visor together with this adhesive. In this case, asshown in FIG. 22, when a clip 96 having a U-shaped cross section isfitted at the lower end of the side visor 21 and the a cover attachmentportion 92 in a vehicle side visor cover 91 is screwed to this clip 96by using screwing means 97, attachment strength of the side visor cover91 with respect to the side visor 21 can be assuredly improved. Asealing portion 93 in FIG. 22 has a configuration in which an outer rimthereof is integrally connected with a lower edge of a cover attachmentportion 92 but it once bulges toward the outside of the vehicle and aninner rim thereof faces a rolled-up window glass 13 of the door 11.Furthermore, an elastic material 94 formed to come into contact with anouter surface of the rolled-up window glass 13 is attached at an innerrim of the sealing portion 93.

Moreover, although the description has been given as to the examplewhere the sealing portion 33, 63, 73 or 83 is formed in a curve so thatit downwardly extends as it gets close to the rolled-up window glass 13of the door 11 in the first to fourth embodiments, the sealing portionmay have a tabular shape. In this case, as shown in FIG. 23, the sealingportion 33 may be constituted of a first sealing plate 33 a and a secondsealing plate 33 b. The illustrated first sealing plate 33 a is formedin such a manner that an outer rim thereof is integrally connected withthe lower edge of the cover attachment portion 32 so that an inner rimthereof faces the rolled-up window glass 13 of the door 11, and aplurality of irregularities having triangular cross sections are formedon an upper surface of the first sealing plate 33 a along a longitudinaldirection. On the other hand, the second sealing plate 33 b issuperimposed on the first sealing plate 33 a from an upper side, andirregularities which fit to the irregularities of the first sealingplate 33 a are formed on a lower surface of the second sealing plate 33b. A through hole 33 d into which a male screw 33 c can be inserted isformed in the first sealing plate 33 a, and a slit 33 e into which themale screw 33 c can be inserted and which is long in a car widthwisedirection is formed in the second sealing plate 33 b superimposed on thefirst sealing plate 33 a at a part facing the through hole 33 d. Afemale screw 33 f is screwed with respect to the male screw 33 cinserted through the through hole 33 d and the slit 33 e, and the secondsealing plate 33 b is attached on the first sealing plate 33 a so as tobe movable in the car widthwise direction by fastening this female screw33 f. Moreover, an elastic material 34 is attached at an inner rim ofthe second sealing plate 33 b.

In case of such a sealing portion 33, a width of the sealing portion 33can be adjusted by moving the second sealing plate 33 b in the carwidthwise direction in accordance with a gap between the side windowglass 13 and the second visor main body 23 b of the side visor 21, andthis gap can be assuredly closed by matching the width of the sealingportion 33 with the gap between the side window glass 13 and the secondvisor main body 23 b. As a result, the gap between the side window glass13 and the second visor main body 23 b can be assuredly closed, therebyeffectively preventing an air current transmitted through the outer sideof the window glass 13 from entering the car.

<Fifth Embodiment>

FIGS. 4 and 8 show a fifth embodiment according to the presentinvention. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote componentsequal to those in the foregoing embodiments, thereby eliminating atautological description.

As shown in FIG. 8, a vehicle side visor cover 111 in this embodiment isattached on a vehicle side visor 121 provided along a window frame 14 ofa front door 11 as well as a window frame 18 of a rear door 16. The sidevisor 121 of this rear door 16 comprises a second horizontal portion 122which covers a substantially horizontal upper part 18 a of the rearwindow frame 18 from the outside of the vehicle and a second inclinedportion 123 which is formed to be continuous with the second horizontalportion 122 and covers an inclined rear part 18 b of the rear windowframe 18 from the outside of the vehicle, and a cover attachment portion112 of the side visor cover 111 can be attached on a lower outer surfaceof the second horizontal portion 122. Additionally, a tabular sealingportion 113, the inner rim of which faces a rolled-up window glass 17 ofthe door 16, has an outer rim which is integrally connected with a loweredge of the cover attachment portion 112, and an elastic material 114formed to come into contact with an outer surface of the rolled-upwindow glass 17 of the door 16 is attached at the inner rim of thesealing portion 113. Further, a lamp 116 is attached at a rear part ofthe cover attachment portion 112 in such a manner that it can bevisually recognized from the outside of the vehicle 10. The lamp 116attached in this example is the same as the lamp 36 used in theforegoing embodiments, thereby eliminating the repeated explanationthereof. Although not shown, a lead wire which supplies power to thislamp 116 is connected with a sidemarker lamp.

In the thus configured vehicle side visor cover 111, it is possible toprevent air in the vehicle sucked from a gap between a front part 14 aof the window frame 14 of the front door 11 and the rolled-down windowglass 13 from flowing toward the rear side of the vehicle 10 togetherwith air outside the vehicle which flows during traveling of the vehicleand again entering the vehicle from a gap between a front part 18 a ofthe window frame 18 of the rear door 16 and the slightly rolled-downwindow glass 17. That is, the air sucked through the gap generatedbetween the front part 14 a and the window glass 13 is transmittedthrough the outer side of the window glass 13 to upwardly flow, andreaches the outer surface of the window glass 17 of the rear door 16.However, the side visor cover 111 according to the present invention isattached on the second horizontal portion 122 of the side visor 121attached on the rear door 16, the sealing portion 113 covers the secondhorizontal portion 122 from the lower side, and the elastic body 114attached at the inner rim of the sealing portion 113 comes into contactwith the window glass 17 to close the gap produced between the upperpart 18 a of the window frame 18 and the window glass 17. Therefore, anair current transmitted through the outer side of the window glass 17does not again enter the vehicle through this gap.

It is to be noted that the description has been given as to the examplewhere the lamp 116 is attached at the rear part of the cover attachmentportion 112 in the fifth embodiment, but the lamp 116 is not necessarilyrequired and does not have to be provided. Further, in case of providingthe lamp 116, the lamp 116 may be attached at the center of the coverattachment portion 112 as shown in FIG. 5, and the lamp 116 may beattached at a front part of the cover attachment portion 112 as shown inFIG. 6.

Furthermore, although the description has been given as to the examplewhere the cover attachment portion 112 of the side visor cover 111 canbe attached on the lower outer surface of the second horizontal portion122 in the foregoing embodiment, the cover attachment portion 112 of theside visor cover 111 may be attached on the lower outer surface of thesecond inclined portion 123.

<Sixth Embodiment>

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a sixth embodiment according to the presentinvention. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote componentsequal to those in the foregoing embodiments, thereby eliminating thetautological explanation.

As shown in FIG. 10, a vehicle side visor cover 131 in this embodimentis attached on a vehicle side visor 121 provided along a window frame 18of a rear door 16, and a cover attachment portion 132 of the side visorcover 131 can be attached on a lower outer surface of a second inclinedportion 123. Further, a horizontal cover 137 which can be attached on anouter surface of a second horizontal portion 122 of the vehicle sidevisor 121 is integrally formed with the cover attachment portion 132. Onthe other hand, a tabular sealing portion 133, the inner rim of whichfaces a rolled-up window glass 17 of the door 16, has an outer rim whichis integrally connected with a lower edge of this cover attachmentportion 132, and an elastic material 134 formed to come into contactwith the outer surface of the rolled-up window glass 17 of the door 16is attached at the inner rim of the sealing portion 133.

A lamp 116 is attached at a rear part of the cover attachment portion132 in such a manner that it can be visually recognized from the outsideof a vehicle 10. Since the lamp 116 attached in this example is the sameas the lamp 36 utilized in the foregoing embodiments, therebyeliminating the tautological explanation thereof. A lead wire whichsupplies power to this lamp 116 is arranged on inner surfaces of thehorizontal cover 137 and the cover attachment portion 132 facing thevehicle side visor 121. Giving a concrete description, a concave groovewhich is continuous in a longitudinal direction is formed on the innersurfaces of the horizontal cover 137 and the cover attachment portion132 facing the vehicle side visor 121, and the coated lead wire isarranged in this concave groove. Furthermore, the other end of the leadwire protrudes from a front end of the horizontal cover 137, and is ledinto the car to be connected with a sidemarker lamp.

In the vehicle side visor cover 131 having such a configuration, air inthe car sucked from a gap between a front part 14 a of a window frame 14of a front door 11 and a rolled-down window glass 13 is upwardlytransmitted through an outer part of the window glass 13, and reaches anouter surface of the window glass 17 of the rear door 16. However, theside visor cover 131 according to the present invention is attached onthe side visor 121 disposed to the rear door 16, the sealing portion 133covers the second inclined portion 123 from the lower side, and theelastic body 134 attached on the inner rim of the sealing portion 133comes into contact with the window glass 17 to close the gap producedbetween an upper part 18 a of the window frame 18 and the window glass17. Therefore, an air current transmitted through the outer part of thewindow glass 17 can be prevented from again entering the car throughthis gap.

On the other hand, in a state where the side visor cover 131 is attachedon the side visor 121, since the coated lead wire is covered with thehorizontal cover 137 and the cover attachment portion 132, the lead wiredoes not appear outside the vehicle 10, thereby improving the externalappearance of the vehicle 10.

It is to be noted that the description has been given as to the examplewhere the lamp 116 is attached at the rear part of the cover attachmentportion 132 in such a manner that the lamp 116 can be visuallyrecognized from the outside of the vehicle 10 in the sixth embodiment,but the lamp 116 is not necessarily required and may not be provided.Moreover, in case of providing the lamp 116, the lamp 116 may beattached at the front part of the cover attachment portion 132 as shownin FIG. 12, and the lamp 116 may be attached on the horizontal cover 137as shown in FIG. 13. Additionally, the lead wire which supplies power tothe lamp 116 may be arranged on the inner surface of one of thehorizontal cover 137 and the cover attachment portion 132.

Further, although the description has been given as to the example wherethe cover attachment portion 132 of the side visor cover 131 can beattached on the lower outer surface of the second inclined portion 123in the sixth embodiment, the cover attachment portion 132 of the sidevisor cover 131 may be configured to be attached on the lower outersurface of the second horizontal portion 122.

Furthermore, although the description has been given as to the examplewhere the lamp 116 is attached on the cover attachment portion 132 orthe horizontal cover 137 in the fifth and sixth embodiments, the lamp116 may be attached on the cover portion 113 or 133 as shown in FIGS. 18to 21. Here, FIG. 18 shows an example where the lamp 116 is attached ata front part of the cover portion 113, and FIG. 19 shows an examplewhere the lamp is attached at a rear part of the cover portion 113. Theside visor cover 131 shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 has a configuration inwhich the horizontal cover 137 which can be attached on the outersurface of the second horizontal portion 122 of the vehicle side visor121 is integrally formed with the cover attachment portion 132, and FIG.20 shows an example where the lamp 116 is attached at the front part ofthe cover portion 133 whilst FIG. 21 shows the example where the lamp116 is attached at the rear part of the cover portion 133.

Moreover, although the description has been given as to the lamp 36comprising the lamp cover 37 and the lamp body 38 in the first to sixthembodiments, as shown in FIG. 24, a lamp 144 may comprise a lamp body147 detachably disposed to a socket 146 and a lamp cover 148 separablyattached in a concave portion 32 d, the socket 146 being attached to theconcave portion 32 d formed in the cover attachment portion 32 or thelike. The illustrated lamp body 147 is a rod-like electric bulb havingterminals 147 a and 147 a at both ends thereof, and the socket 146 inwhich this electric bulb 147 is attached has a pair of support plates146 a and 146 a which are electrically connected with the terminals 147a and 147 a and hold the electric bulb 147. Holes 146 b and 146 b inwhich the terminals 147 a and 147 a are inserted are formed in thesupport plates 146 a and 146 a, the electric bulb 147 is detachablydisposed in the socket 146 by tilting the support plates 146 a and 146 aand inserting the terminals 147 a and 147 a into the respective holes146 b and 146 b.

The lamp cover 148 is produced by molding a translucent resin, andformed in a curve to bulge toward the sides of the vehicle in such amanner that it is elongated in accordance with the horizontally longconcave portion 32 d and covers the lamp body 147 attached in the socket146 from the front surface. Attachment holes 148 a and 148 a arerespectively formed at both ends of the lamp cover 148, and a pair ofcylindrical bosses 32 f and 32 f are provided in the concave portion 32d facing the attachment holes 148 a and 148 a so as to hold the socket146. Tapping screws 149 and 149 are inserted into the attachment holes148 a and 148 a, the lamp cover 148 is separably disposed in the concaveportion 32 d by screwing the screws 149 and 149 in the bosses 32 f and32 f so that the lamp body 147 is covered together with the socket 146in an attached state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle having a side visorcover according to the first embodiment of the present invention takenalong an A—A line in FIG. 8.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where a lamp isattached on the side visor cover.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B—B in FIG. 8.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the side visor cover with a lamp beingattached at a rear part of a cover attachment portion.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the side visor cover with the lamp beingattached at a central part of the cover attachment portion.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the side visor cover with the lamp beingattached at a front part of the cover attachment portion.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a vehicle having the side visor coveraccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the vehicle.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle having a side visorcover according to the second embodiment of the present invention takenalong a line C—C in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a vehicle having the side visor coveraccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the side visor cover with a lamp beingattached at a rear part.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the side visor cover with the lamp beingattached at a central part.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the side visor cover with the lamp beingattached at a front part.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a side visor on which a side visor coverhaving a flap according to the third embodiment of the present inventionis attached.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along a D—D line in FIG. 14, inwhich the flap is placed at a first position.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 15, in which theflap is placed at a second position.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle having a side visorcover with a lamp being provided to a sealing portion according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention taken along a line E—E inFIG. 18.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the side visor cover with the lamp beingattached at a front part of the sealing portion.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the side visor cover with the lamp beingattached at a rear part of the sealing portion.

FIG. 20 is a side view showing a configuration in which the lamp isattached at the front part of the sealing portion of the side visorcover having an inclined upper cover and others.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing a configuration in which the lamp isattached at the rear part of the sealing portion of the side visorcover.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing aconfiguration in which a cover attachment portion is disposed through aclip.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing aconfiguration in which the sealing portion comprises first and secondsealing plates.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing aconfiguration of another lamp.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional side visor.

EXPRESSION OF REFERENCE LETTERS

10 vehicle

11 front door (vehicle door)

13, 17 window glass

14 front window frame

14 a front part

14 b upper part

16 rear door (vehicle door)

18 rear window frame

18 a upper part

18 b rear part

21 vehicle side visor

22 first inclined portion

23 first horizontal portion

31, 61, 71, 81, 91, 111, 131 side visor cover

32, 62, 72, 82, 92, 112, 132 cover attachment portion

33, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 133 sealing portion

34, 64, 74, 84, 94, 114, 134 elastic material

33 a first sealing plate

33 b second sealing plate

32 a rain receiving groove

36 lamp

66 horizontal rear cover

67 horizontal upper cover

68 inclined upper cover

69 lead wire

86 reinforcing holding piece

96 clip

76 flap

116 lamp

121 vehicle side visor

122 second horizontal portion

123 second inclined portion

137 horizontal cover

1. A vehicle side visor cover which is attached on a conventionally usedvehicle side visor (21, 121) provided along a window frame (14, 18) of avehicle door (11, 16) to effectively utilize the vehicle side visor (21,121), the vehicle side visor cover comprising: a cover attachmentportion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92, 112, 132) which can be attached on an outersurface of the side visor (21, 121) and has a lower edge along a loweredge of the side visor (21, 121); a tabular sealing portion (33, 63, 73,83, 93, 113, 133) whose outer rim is integrally connected with the loweredge of the cover attachment portion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92, 112, 132) andwhose inner rim faces a rolled-up window glass (13, 17) of the door (11,16); and an elastic material (34, 64, 74, 84, 94, 114, 134) which isattached on the inner rim of the sealing portion (33, 63, 73, 83, 93,113, 133) and formed to come into contact with an outer surface of therolled-up window glass (13, 17) of the door (11, 16); wherein thesealing portion (33) comprises: a first sealing plate (33 a) whose outerrim is integrally connected with the lower edge of the cover attachmentportion (32) and whose inner rim faces the rolled-up window glass (13)of the door (11); and a second sealing plate (33 b) which issuperimposed and attached on the first sealing plate (33 a) so as to bemovable in a car widthwise direction and has an inner rim on which theelastic material (34) is attached.
 2. A vehicle side visor cover whichis attached on a conventionally used vehicle side visor (21, 121)provided along a window frame (14, 18) of a vehicle door (11, 16) toeffectively utilize the vehicle side visor (21, 121), the vehicle sidevisor cover comprising: a cover attachment portion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92,112, 132) which can be attached on an outer surface of the side visor(21, 121) and has a lower edge along a lower edge of the side visor (21,121); a tabular sealing portion (33, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 133) whoseouter rim is integrally connected with the lower edge of the coverattachment portion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92, 112, 132) and whose inner rimfaces a rolled-up window glass (13, 17) of the door (11, 16); and anelastic material (34, 64, 74, 84, 94, 114, 134) which is attached on theinner rim of the sealing portion (33, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 133) andformed to come into contact with an outer surface of the rolled-upwindow glass (13, 17) of the door (11, 16); wherein the sealing portion(33, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 133) is formed in a curve in such a mannerthat it declines and approaches the window glass (13, 17) as gettingcloser to the rolled-up window glass (13, 17) of the door (11, 16).
 3. Avehicle side visor cover which is attached on a conventionally usedvehicle side visor (21) provided along a window frame (14) of a vehicledoor (11) to effectively utilize the vehicle side visor (21), thevehicle side visor cover comprising: a cover attachment portion (32, 62,72, 82, 92) which can be attached on an outer surface of the side visor(21) and has a lower edge along a lower edge of the side visor (21); atabular sealing portion (33, 63, 73, 83, 93) whose outer rim isintegrally connected with the lower edge of the cover attachment portion(32, 62, 72, 82, 92) and whose inner rim faces a rolled-up window glass(13) of the door (11); and an elastic material (34, 64, 74, 84, 94)which is attached on the inner rim of the sealing portion (33, 63, 73,83, 93) and formed to come into contact with an outer surface of therolled-up window glass (13) of the door (11); wherein the vehicles sidevisor (21) is provided along the window frame (14) of a front door (11),the side visor (21) of the front door (11) comprises: a first inclinedportion (22) which covers an inclined front part (14 a) of the frontwindow frame (14) from the outside of a vehicle; and a first horizontalportion (23) which is formed to be continuous with the first inclinedportion (22) and covers a substantially horizontal upper part (14 b) ofthe front window frame (14) from the outside of the vehicle, and thecover attachment portion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92) can be attached on a lowerouter surface of the first horizontal portion (23); and wherein an upperedge of the cover attachment portion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92) is formed tobe smoothly continuous with a lower edge of the first inclined portion(22) of the vehicle side visor (21).
 4. A vehicle side visor cover whichis attached on a conventionally used vehicle side visor (21) providedalong a window frame (14) of a vehicle door (11) to effectively utilizethe vehicle side visor (21), the vehicle side visor cover comprising: acover attachment portion (32) which can be attached on an outer surfaceof the side visor (21) and has a lower edge along a lower edge of theside visor (21); a tabular sealing portion (33) whose outer rim isintegrally connected with the lower edge of the cover attachment portion(32) and whose inner rim faces a rolled-up window glass (13) of the door(11); and an elastic material (34) which is attached on the inner rim ofthe sealing portion (33) and formed to come into contact with an outersurface of the rolled-up window glass (13) of the door (11); wherein arain receiving groove (32 a) is formed at the upper edge of the coverattachment portion (32) alone or together with the vehicle side visor(21) over an entire length of the cover attachment portion (32).
 5. Avehicle side visor cover which is attached on a conventionally usedvehicle side visor (21, 121) provided along a window frame (14, 18) of avehicle door (11, 16) to effectively utilize the vehicle side visor (21,121), the vehicle side visor cover comprising: a cover attachmentportion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92, 112, 132) which can be attached on an outersurface of the side visor (21, 121) and has a lower edge along a loweredge of the side visor (21, 121); a tabular sealing portion (33, 63, 73,83, 93, 113, 133) whose outer rim is integrally connected with the loweredge of the cover attachment portion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92, 112, 132) andwhose inner rim faces a rolled-up window glass (13, 17) of the door (11,16); and an elastic material (34, 64, 74, 84, 94, 114, 134) which isattached on the inner rim of the sealing portion (33, 63, 73, 83, 93,113, 133) and formed to come into contact with an outer surface of therolled-up window glass (13, 17) of the door (11, 16); wherein a lamp(36, 116) which illuminates a lower side is attached on the sealingportion (33, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 133).
 6. A vehicle side visor coverwhich is attached on a conventionally used vehicle side visor (21)provided along a window frame (14) of a vehicle door (11) to effectivelyutilize the vehicle side visor (21), the vehicle side visor covercomprising: a cover attachment portion (82) which can be attached on anouter surface of the side visor (21) and has a lower edge along a loweredge of the side visor (21); a tabular sealing portion (83) whose outerrim is integrally connected with the lower edge of the cover attachmentportion (82) and whose inner rim faces a rolled-up window glass (13) ofthe door (11); and an elastic material (84) which is attached on theinner rim of the sealing portion (83) and formed to come into contactwith an outer surface of the rolled-up window glass (13) of the door(11); wherein a reinforcing holding piece (86) which is held at a lowerend of the vehicle side visor (21) together with the cover attachmentportion (82) is integrally provided at the lower edge of the coverattachment portion (82) or the sealing portion (83).
 7. A vehicle sidevisor cover which is attached on a conventionally used vehicle sidevisor (21) provided along a window frame (14, 18) of a vehicle door (11,16) to effectively utilize the vehicle side visor (21), the vehicle sidevisor cover comprising: a cover attachment portion (92) which can beattached on an outer surface of the side visor (21) and has a lower edgealong a lower edge of the side visor (21); a tabular sealing portion(93) whose outer rim is integrally connected with the lower edge of thecover attachment portion (92) and whose inner rim faces a rolled-upwindow glass (13, 17) of the door (11, 16); and an elastic material (94)which is attached on the inner rim of the sealing portion (93) andformed to come into contact with an outer surface of the rolled-upwindow glass (13, 17) of the door (11, 16); wherein the cover attachmentportion (92) is attached at a lower end of the side visor (21) by beingscrewed to a clip (96) which allows fitting and has a U-shaped crosssection.
 8. A vehicle side visor cover which is attached on aconventionally used vehicle side visor (21) provided along a windowframe (14) of a vehicle door (11) to effectively utilize the vehicleside visor (21, 121), the vehicle side visor cover comprising: a coverattachment portion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92) which can be attached on anouter surface of the side visor (21) and has a lower edge along a loweredge of the side visor (21); a tabular sealing portion (33, 63, 73, 83,93) whose outer rim is integrally connected with the lower edge of thecover attachment portion (32, 62, 72, 82, 92) and whose inner rim facesa rolled-up window glass (13) of the door (11); and an elastic material(34, 64, 74, 84, 94) which is attached on the inner rim of the sealingportion (33, 63, 73, 83, 93) and formed to come into contact with anouter surface of the rolled-up window glass (13) of the door (11);wherein the vehicles side visor (21) is provided along the window frame(14) of a front door (11), the side visor (21) of the front door (11)comprises: a first inclined portion (22) which covers an inclined frontpart (14 a) of the front window frame (14) from the outside of avehicle; and a first horizontal portion (23) which is formed to becontinuous with the first inclined portion (22) and covers asubstantially horizontal upper part (14 b) of the front window frame(14) from the outside of the vehicle, and the cover attachment portion(32, 62, 72, 82, 92) can be attached on a lower outer surface of thefirst horizontal portion (23); and wherein a flap (76) is continuouslyformed at a front end of the cover attachment portion (72) along a loweredge of the first inclined portion (22) of the vehicle side visor on alower outer surface of the first inclined portion (22), and the flap(76) can be selectively changed to one of a first position at which theentire flap (76) forms substantially the same plane as the firstinclined portion (22) and a second position at which a lower end of theflap (76) increases a gap between itself and the first inclined portion(22).